Column-cap



A. L. SMITH.

COLUMN CAP. APNIC/umul FILED mw 2'1. 1919.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Y i Patented Dec,9, 1919.

Application led May 27, 1919; Serial No. 300,080..

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ARTHUR L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Melrose, in the county of `Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inColumn-Caps,of which the following is-a specification.

This invention relates to a column cap and particularly to a cap whichmay be formed from standard structural shapes and adapted for use withtubular steel columns. An object of the invention is to provide a capfor a tubular column which vmay be easily constructed and readilyinstalled, which can not become displaced transversely of the column,and` which has portions eX- tending laterally from the column ofsufficient strength to carry loads applied solely thereto instead ofV tothe Vcentral portion in. alinement with the column'.`

Referring to the drawings which show certain embodiments of myinvention,

Figure 1 isa front elevation of oneem bodiment of my invention, showinga ecol-p umn cap constructed from angle iron; Y

Fig.2 is a side elevation of the cap shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3is a top plan of the embodiment of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 4 is a top plan 'of Vanother embodiment of my invention, showing acolumn cap constructed from T iron;

dig. 5 is a front elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a further embodiment of my invention,showing a modified form of column cap constructed from angle iron;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the embodiment ofV Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan of the embodiment of Fig. 7

Heretofore it has been common practice to provide tubular steel columnswith caps formed from substantially flat plates, anchored to the columnby bolts embedded in the concrete which lls the column. Thisconstruction has not given entire satisfaction for the reason that thelate does not grip the'top of the column su 'ciently to prevent thecolumn from slipping sidewise from under the cap. It has been proposedto use channel iron for the cap, with the flanges of the channel turneddownwardly, but with such construction slipping is prevented only in adirection transverse of the flanges. It

is the purpose of this invention so to construct the cap and so to litit to the column that the cap is held securelyto the top of the columnin such manner that the cap and column can not slip relatively to eachother in any direction.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 lI `haveA shown the upper end of a steel tubularcolumn at 1.

The column is provided at 2 withslots eX- tending axially of the columnthrough the wall of the tube, diametrically opposite each other. Restingon the top of the column is a. T-shaped cap 3 `comprising two sectionsof angle iron i positioned with two of their flanges 5 back to back andinserted in the slots 2 and with their remaining flanges in alinement.The abutting flanges are secured together by rivets 6 or other suitablemeans and have their corners cut off diagonally as positioned throughthe flanges that their heads abut the outside surface of the tubularcolumn, thus positioning the flanges 5 of the cap in the slots of thetube so that the cap and colunm are `locked against lateral movementrelatively to each other in the direction of the flanges. To secure thecap to the top ofthe column anchor rods 8 are provided with their heads9 countersunk in suitable holes in the cap 3. The rods Vmay be securedto the cap 3 in any other suitable manner as by riveting, bolting orwelding. These anchors may be rods, bolts, or bars of any shape and areanchored to the column when the column isfilled withconcrete. The cap 3is furtherprovided with holes 10 for the purpose of receivin bolts toattachthe cap to` the base` of anotfher column or to any other portionof the structure in which the column lis employed.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have disclosed a modified form of column cap 3formed from T iron 11, with its flange 12 engaged in the slots 2 in theend `of column 1. The cap is in all respects similar to the cap shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3 except in that no rivets are employed inasmuch as thecap is formed ofa single integral piece.

A still further embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 7, 8and 9 in which the upper end of the column is formed with pairs of slots2 and 13, cut at rightl angles to each other. The cap 3 comprises twopieces of angle iron 4 positioned,

shown at 7. The rivets 6 are preferably so Vtively to the column in alldirections.

as in Fig, 2 with their flanges 5 secured together by rivets 6, theflanges 5 fitting into the slots 2 of the column. Secured by their legs15 to the flanges 5 by rivets 14, are angle braces 16, said bracesbeing' attached with their legs 17 abutting and secured together byrivets 18. The legs 17 extend outwardly to the edges of the angle ironsd, and are adapted to fit into the slots 18 of the column 1. The legs l5are shorter than'legs 17 and engage the inneiwsurface of the column 1adjacent the slots as shown at 19 in Fig. 9, these braces serving tocenter the cap reli desirable a flat steel plate may 4be secured to theupper surface of cap 3 of sufficient size to cover the entire surface ofthe cap. Bolt holes for securing the cap to other structural membershave been omitted from these figures, but it is to be understood thatthey could be supplied if the nature of the structure ldemanded thennvIt is to lbe noted that no anchor rods :are .employed with theembodiment of Figs. 7, 8 `and 9 forthe reason that the employment of theauxiliary braces 1G, very securely holds the cap on the top of thecolumn. Such .anchors could be employed however in the manner disclosedin Figs. l to 6, if desired.

While I have elected to show my `iinf` proved column cap attached to thetop of a tubular columnV it is evident that it could also be used as acolumn base by inverting it and erecting the column upon it.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a columnprovided With an axial slot, a T-shaped cap on the end of said column,said cap comprising tivo angle irons positioned With certain of theirflanges abutting and their other flanges in alinement, the said abuttingflanges fitted in said slot.

2. In -a device of the class described, the combination of a columnprovided With an axial slot, a T-slia-ped cap on the end of said column,said cap comprising tivo angle irons positioned With certain of theirVflanges abutting and their other flanges in alinenient, the saidabutting flanges engaging in said slot, rivets for securing saidabutting flanges together, said rivets being so poV sitioned thatthesaid flanges are restrained from endivise movement in. said slot.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a columnprovided with 4axial slots, a T shaped cap on 'the end of said column,said cap comprising two angle irons positioned with certainof theirflanges abutting and their =otherl flanges/in ailineinent, the abuttingflanges being secured together and engaging in one of said slots, angle,braces secured on either side of said abutting flanges with theiradjacent legs secured together and engaging in the other slot.

4s In a device of the'class described, the combination of a columnprovided with axial slots, :aT-shaped cap on the end of said column,said cap comprising tivo angle irons positioned With certain of theirflanges abutting and their .other flanges in alinement', the abuttingflanges being secured together and engaging in one of said slots,Tshaped members secured on opposite sides of said abutting flanges with4the stems of said T-shaped members in ailinement and engaging lin theother slot.

5. In `a device of the class described, the.

their adjacent legs secured together and en gaging in the other of saidslots.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a columnprovided With axial slots, a T-shaped cap on the end of said column withthe upright of the `T engaging in one of said slots, angle braces eachhaving one short and one long leg, secured by their short legs on eitherside of said upright with their adjacent long legs secured together andengaging in the other slot, the short legs of said braces lying entirelyWithin the tube.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this fourteenth day of May, 1919.

ARTHUR i L. SMITH.

